The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) have launched two new development projects in Sudan, totaling USD 4 million in financing from the Kuwait Fund, with an additional USD 4.2 million from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for one initiative. The projects aim to expand clean energy access, enhance food and water security, and strengthen community resilience amid Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, where over 14 million people are displaced and 21 million face acute food insecurity.
The initiatives seek to provide immediate assistance while fostering long-term recovery for communities hosting internally displaced persons and refugees. UNDP Resident Representative Emma Morley emphasized the importance of rebuilding systems rather than just responding to crises, highlighting Kuwait’s continued support for international development and humanitarian action in Sudan. Acting Director General of the Kuwait Fund, Waleed Shamlan Al Bahar, underscored the Fund’s longstanding humanitarian commitment, noting that past joint projects since 2013, totaling USD 18.6 million, have improved livelihoods, food access, water supply, and job opportunities for Sudanese communities.
The first project, Strengthening the Resilience of Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees, and Host Communities in East Sudan, is a USD 6.8 million initiative co-funded by the Kuwait Fund, SDC, and UNDP. It will support 160,000 people across Kassala, Gedaref, and Red Sea states by restoring livelihoods through climate-resilient agriculture, fisheries, livestock support, and solar-powered water and energy solutions. The project also aims to build local governance capacity through Community Management Committees, ensuring at least 50 percent women’s participation for sustainability and inclusive decision-making.
The second initiative, Powering Sudan’s Agriculture: Renewable Water Solutions for a Sustainable Future, is fully funded by the Kuwait Fund with USD 2 million and targets 500,000 smallholder farmers in White Nile, Al Jazeera, Kassala, and Red Sea states. This project focuses on enhancing water security and agricultural productivity by installing solar-powered irrigation systems, rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure, training farmers in efficient water management, and strengthening community water user associations to ensure fair and sustainable governance.
UNDP Sudan Resident Representative Luca Renda highlighted that these projects will help Sudanese communities become healthier and more resilient despite the ongoing conflict. By combining immediate relief with long-term sustainability, the joint efforts of the Kuwait Fund, SDC, and UNDP aim to restore essential services, boost agricultural productivity, and expand access to clean energy and water across Sudan.
